Compound and base for use in the manufacture of greases



Patented Oct. 18, 1932 ALEXANDER HORWITZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

COMPOUND AND BASE FOR USE IN THE MANUFACTURE-OF GREASES No Drawing.

This invention relates to a compound, and a base produced from said compound, for use in the manufacture of lubricating greases of various kinds and classes; and the object of the invention is to provide a compound and base of the class specified which is produced from metallic soap and an oil or oils in the substantial proportions hereinafter defined, and which is used in conjunction with various kinds, grades or classes or" mineral oils in such proportions as to produce the desired body consistency in the resulting grease so as to adapt the same for many lubricating uses; a further object being to provide a base of the class specified which when produced will represent a powdered or granular substance, fa-

cilitating its introduction into the desired oil.

in the production of the grease and which will produce a grease of relatively clear consistency; a further object being to employ in combination with the compound and/or base a suitable oil color, whereby grease products of independent manufacturers may be designated and characterized by color; a still further object being to provide a compound and base of the class specified, by means of the use of which manufacturers may produce their own bases in the use of the compound or their own greases in the use of the base in conjunction with the oils of their own refineries; and with these and other objects in view, the invention consists in a compound and base of the class and for the purpose specified, produced and utilized in the manner hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

To illustrate one form of my invention and one method of its production, the following proportions of the several ingredients are employed:

Leadoleate. Five '5) Castor oil 'r Fifteen (15) Sperm, oil Five 5) The above ingredients will produce the compound from which my improved base may be formed, and in the production of the base, seventy-five parts of aluminum stearate is introduced. I may also introduce the desired proportionateiamount of coloring matter to produce a predetermined color or shade of a Parts- Application filed March 27, 1929. Serial No. 350,444.

color by introducing into the compound and/or base the desired amount of oil color.

It will be understood that the proportionate parts of the several ingredients above named may be slightly varied; and in producing the compound, I first place the lead oleate in a vat, subjecting the same to heat about 220 F. until the same becomes liquid.

I then gradually. introduce the sperm oil, agitating the product in this operation and maintaining the heat, and when thoroughly mixed, the castor oil is then slowly introduced intothe product, which is agitated in this operation.

After thoroughly mixing these products and subjecting them to sufficient heat to thoroughly melt and combine all of the ingredients, the product may then be allowed to cool, being agitated during the cooling process until the product starts to set or stiffen, and the resulting product will be a salve or wax-like substance which may be distributed in containers of any kind or class.

In this connection, it will be understood that in addition to the other oils a viscious mineral oil may be introduced in the preparation of the compound, the oil being preferably added to the lead oleate; and by introducing this oil, the necessity of stirring or agitating the mass when cooling, will be eliminated to a large degree, the mineral oil operating to more completely combine and hold the ingredients in combined state.

In preparing the base from the compound produced as above, I incorporate the aluminum stearate, and this may be done before allowing the compound to cool and harden, but if cooled and hardened, the same is again placed under heat about 220 F. In both cases, the aluminum stearate is introduced gradually into the mass while the same-is agitated, and when all of the aluminum stearate has been introduced and thoroughly mingled with the other ingredients, the resulting product will be relatively solid but powderlike or granular substance.

If .it is desired to produce this product in a very fine, granular or powder state, the same may be produced in what is known as a pebbling machine, the characteristics of which 100 are such as to break up and pulverize the minute particles, and this is advantageous in that it facilitates the mingling of the base with a mineral oil when the base is used in 5 the production of a grease. The resulting base may be packed and shipped in containers of various kinds and classes for distribu tion to grease manufacturers.

In the production of the grease, mineral oil is mixed with the base gradually and by thorough agitation of the base and subjecting the same to heat sufficient to insure the melting of the base at a temperature of from approximately 180 degrees to 220 degrees Fahrenheit. During this operation, the mass first thickens and then becomes thinner, at which time, the temperature is reduced to approximately 120 degreesFahrenheit, and the agitation is discontinued and the product allowed to remain under this or a lower temperature until substantially all of the bubbles which rise to the surface, disappear.

To test the product, a small portion may be removed from the mass and placed upon a glass or other surface and allowed to cool.

If the result shows a relatively clear, translucent, heavy, body consistency, the product has been properly formed by the use of the required proportions of the ingredients.

It will also be understood that instead of preparing the base in a powder or granular form, the same may be prepared in a waxlike or salve-like form by introducing into the base, a relatively small proportion of min- 35 eral oil which will facilitate the mingling of the base with the mineral oil in the production of thegr'ease.

A grease prepared from my improved compound and base will possess relatively high 0 viscous properties by virtue of the use of the castor oil, and a heavy but clear body in the use of the sperm oil, both combinated with the metallic soaps named.

It will be understood however, that while I have referred to specific types of oils and metallic soaps, 'that my invention is not necessarily limited to these specificingreclients nor to the specific proportionate amounts of each herein set out, and various base and the compound from which the base is formed may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from oleate, fifteen parts of castor oil, five parts of sperm oil, seventy-five parts of aluminum stearate and suflicient coloring matter to produce the desired color in a grease prepared by the use of said base.

3. A. grease base of the class described consisting of approximately five parts of lead oleate, fifteen parts of castor oil, five parts of sperm oil, seventy-five parts of aluminum stearate and a predetermined percentage of mineral oil.

4. A pulverized base for use in producing greases consisting of approximately seventyfive parts of aluminum stearate with which is combined approximately five parts of lead oleate, fifteen parts of castor oil, and five parts of sperm oil, said base being combined with a. mineral oil in producing a lubricating grease.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name this 22nd day of March 1929.

' ALEXANDER HORWITZ.

changes in and modifications of my improved Having fully disclosedmy invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters 4 Patent, is:

1. A grease base of the class described consisting of approximately five parts of lead oleate, fifteen parts of castor oil, five parts of sperm oil and seventy-five parts of aluminum stearate.

2. A grease base of the class described consisting of approximately five parts of lead 

